If you have information on your organization, business, blog, etc. please send it to us so that we can add it to our resource list. Give us a little information so that people will know what you are all about.

Archive for the ‘Birds’ Category

Do you care about animals? Would you like to find a new job, or need a job? Listening to the news I would think the economy is coming back, but not when I talk with a lot of people around the country. Making a living still seems to be a challenge for most. Many people are very unhappy doing the work they are doing everyday. They have passions and desires that are not being fulfilled. Others are out of work and say they want to find “anything” because they need the income.

This is the perfect time to evaluate what is really important to you, what your passions are AND help animals at the same time.

If you are out of work, or would like to do something else, this is the best time to open the doors for the kind of work YOU want to do. Do you know what you’re really passionate about? Most people have no idea. Don’t think in terms of income but what kinds of things get you really excited and leave you happy and fulfilled when you are finished. It could be ANYTHING:

1. Walking in the woods

2. Doing crossword puzzles

3. Meeting new people

4. Caring for animals

5. Gardening

6. Talking on the phone

7. Reading

8. Traveling…..the list goes on and on

Recently I’ve had a number of friends ask me to help them figure out what they should do, they are not happy doing what they are doing, or they got laid off and fear they won’t find a job in their industry.

If you know what you’re passionate about, you can use that passion to help animals and open doors for your next career. Yes, CAREER, not job. The animal organizations, and charities, around the country need help now, more than ever before. Funding has dried up so they can’t hire the people they need. They also can’t afford to buy the food and supplies needed to care for the animals. Everyday I get requests from these organizations for volunteers and donations.

Right now you are asking yourself, “How can helping an organization help me”? It can, in MANY ways. You meet new people who might open the door to your next position. You also get to do the things you are passionate about. It’s a great way to find out if it’s something you want to do for a living. If so, you can put the experience on your resume. Most people have only worked in the field they have been trained in, but that is not what they love doing.

Here are some ideas for you to think about:

1. Walking and caring for animals at a shelter (if you like being outside)

2. Help the staff with ideas about how to raise money and supplies (doing crossword puzzles)

3. Feeding baby animals or holding ones that are afraid (caring for animals)

4. Cleaning up and landscaping the facility (gardening)

5. Making calls for supplies, donations, volunteers, etc. (talking on the phone)

6. Research and help find new ideas that can benefit the organization (reading)

7. Animals and supplies need to be transported to other locations (traveling)

These are only a few ideas. I could go on for quite sometime. There are also a lot of animals that need to be fostered until a permanent home can be found. They can be cats, dogs, ferrets, iguanas, pigs, etc.

What kinds of animals do you like?

1. Tigers

2. Dogs

3. Cats

4. Birds

5. Horses

6. Monkeys

7. Deer

8. Pigs

There are organizations caring for any kind of animal you can think of, all over the country. All of them need help. You can Google the kind of animal you want to help with “rescue” or “shelter”, then your area. (Ex: ferret shelter Florida) You will most likely find something in your area. If not, call or email the ones that pop up. The animal community is very small and we all help each other the best we can.

I hope that this post will inspire people to find their true passion, and use their passion in a way that will fulfill them personally and help animals that have a lot of needs. At the very least, you will open doors by meeting other people who might know a company that needs a position filled with someone who has your qualifications.

The holidays are a wonderful time of year; friends and family visiting and an abundance of new toys for your pet. Those annual holiday items we think are beautiful and peaceful are viewed as toys by your dog and then a menace when they ingest it. To make sure that your holiday runs smoothly, here are a few tips to dog proof your house during the holidays. These suggestions should be used for other your other pets as well, like cats and ferrets.

Everyone loves the holiday lights that glow beautifully in the night this time of year; but there is an unseen hazard. Dogs, especially those who are over curious, will find the cords to your indoor and outdoor lights a toy. This is a hazard if your dog chews on the cords, they could expose the wiring which could shock or even electrocute your pet. To avoid this, make sure to tie your cords together and hide them under a sheet or cord cover and check regularly that your pet hasn’t messed with the cords.

The tree looks beautiful to us but to a dog it is covered with lots of toys. All those shiny, glittery balls are great to knock off the tree, then break, and then eat. And once it’s eaten, the problems multiply. The last thing you want during the holidays is a pet with a blocked intestine and in need of surgery. Set your tree off the floor on boxes and cover those boxes with a large tree skirt, and don’t hang ornaments too low where your pet can get to them.

Everyone knows the best food of the year is made during the holiday season. There is a lot of turkey, chocolates, cakes, cookies, and the list goes on. All of these foods are dangerous to your pet. After cooking a turkey, make sure the keep it out of the way where your dog can’t get at it, and when you are finished with the turkey, take the trash with the bones out to a lidded trash can immediately. Dogs love turkey bones which are sharp and can puncture the intestines if eaten. Many meals contain a chocolate treat this time of year as well. Chocolate is a poison to dogs and should be kept out of reach at all times. Keep an eye on your dog to make sure it’s not getting into anything they shouldn’t be.

Dogs react to alcohol just like anyone does. Except, your dog has a low tolerance and can get sick from it. Every year beloved pets die from alcohol poisoning. Don’t let them drink from the punch bowl or the eggnog. Keep it out of reach of your pet.

Holiday plants like poinsettias, mistletoe and holly can be dangerous to pets. Recent studies have shown that the plants are not as dangerous as they were thought to be, but they can still cause stomach upset for your pet. Use fake plants instead, just make sure that your pet doesn’t eat the fake flowers which are also dangerous.

Dogs, like humans and all other living organisms, need food. The right food is important, it makes your dog look, act, and feel better. The wrong foods can upset their stomachs, give them gas, make them appear unhealthy, or even be fatal. Here is some information to help you decide what foods are best for your dog.

Dogs should be maintained on dog food. Whether it be dry or wet food or a mixture of both. There are many dog food companies out there and all of them want you to purchase their food. But which is right for your dog. The first rule about dog food; look on the back of the package at the ingredients. If it starts with anything including the word “meal”, this is a poor food. Good foods will always start the ingredients with a real meat like chicken, lamb or beef.

Many people like to feed their dogs people food. If you know what is good and bad, then it’s ok. But where does that hazy gray line come in? The second rule about dog food; if you shouldn’t eat it, neither should your dog. Giving your dog the scraps at the end of the meal is not good. These scraps are pieces of fat, bone and unedible material, your dog doesn’t know that, but relies on you to feed him appropriately. Some of these scrap foods can make your dog overweight, cause intestinal blockage, or gastroenteritis.

So what can you feed your dog off the table that won’t raise your vet bill? Start with some vegetables. Third rule about dog food, always feed your dog raw or frozen plain vegetables. This means no canned vegetables and no vegetables marinated in butter or other tasty sauces. Good foods are broccoli, carrots, green beans and cauliflower. The downside to the tasty goodness, the gas. Broccoli and cauliflower are known to cause caustic gas. When it comes to meat, feed them steak, chicken or pork, as long as it is not covered in seasonings.

Foods for dogs that are absolute no-nos; well there’s a few and they have serious consequences. Chocolate is poisonous; it causes gastroenteritis and can lead to death if not dealt with quickly. Garlic, onions and shallots are all poisonous. If you season your meats or vegetables, make sure they don’t contain these ingredients. Here is a link to foods poisonous to your pets.http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=1030

If you notice that your pet got into something they shouldn’t have, call your vet immediately. Let your vet know if you notice any changes in bowel movements, eating and drinking habits, playfulness, lethargy; these symptoms will help your vet pin point your pet’s problem and help to solve it sooner.

The oil disaster in the Gulf is far from over. Even though it’s no longer in the news, there are a lot of environmentalists and experts in engineering, science, commerce, culture, socio-economic studies and research wanting to educate the public about solutions to sustainability issues.

Deltas and estuaries are among the most productive and the most threatened ecosystems on earth. As such, there is an unprecedented urgency for collaboration across deltaic regions of the world to share technology, develop intellectual capital and build knowledge about sustainable deltaic systems.

“The greatest tragedy that we face is not the oil spill itself, but our own willingness to believe that our wildlife and way of life is back to normal. This is a great disservice to our country, our people, and those who will be here long after we are gone”. Roger Ivens Defenders of the Coast

I want to bring more information to the pubic so people can feel empowered to do things in their own lives that will have a positive impact. Education and awareness is the key to opening these doors. On November 18th there will be an event in New Orleans. It is called, “Celebrating Critters and the Coast”. It will benefit two non-profit organizations on the front lines. They help the wildlife and companion animals affected from this situation.

Even if you can’t attend this very special event in New Orleans, you CAN be part of it. Go to our website homepage and click on “Celebrating Critters and the Coast” If you buy a ticket to the event, you will be entered into the contest to win a 1 week stay in Costa Rica or Steamboat Springs. You pick the one you want. They sleep 6-8 people and valued at $3500.

I just returned from a trip to New Orleans. I attended the Gulf Coast Strategic Planning Conference, Assisting Animals in Need. I met a lot of wonderful people who care about animals and the world we live in. I realized, by the end of the weekend, just how connected we all are in the world. This situation was manmade and will have consequences that are far reaching. I see it as a wake-up call.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) had been invited to make a presentation at the conference. The Coordinator of NOAA’s “Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program” was going to attend. The morning of the conference they pulled out and said they would not send a replacement. They would not say why the pulled out.

Billy Nungesser is a very generous man and cares about the public! I told him that I wanted to go out in the marshes and see what is going on, with my own eyes. Billy called P.J. Hahn ( Director, Coastal Zone Management Dept.) who arranged for me to go out on the boat. Billy told me that anyone else who attended the conference could join me. We had about 15 people go out on Billy’s boats.

Jeff Dorson, Executive Director for The Humane Society of Louisiana, said he was glad he was able to go out and see what is happening in the Gulf. The very first thing we saw when we arrived at the dock was shocking!There was a very large area of land that was fenced in with a sign saying: “Warning, Do Not Enter, Hazardous Material”. PJ said that was the area where booms and equipment were housed. He said it was so full that you could barely walk in there. Had I arrived 6 days earlier I would have seen it myself. Unfortunately, BP is taking everything out of the region and nothing was left, except a few booms. (See below).

I did see tar balls floating in the water. They are NOT gone. I also saw oil slicks on top of that water.

Land for Housing booms and equipment

Once we pulled out of the dock we saw, immediately, how slack the care for this oil situation had become. Booms were not in place. Many of the booms that were in place were covered in oil. We also saw a number of BP workers on their boats but they were not doing any work. Here are a few pictures from the first canal we went down, the first 5 minutes of our day.

Dirty Booms

Missing Booms

Small Wake from Boat causes Water to go Above and Below Dirty Booms

Workers on Boats, NOT Working!

More Workers

The oil disaster has been a challenge in many ways. Since the oil leak began, BP has been adding dispersants to the water. The first 2 months they used Corexit 9527. There is proof that this product is harmful to animals and humans. After 20 years, the people affected by the Exxon disaster are still getting sick and cancer from the use of this dispersant.The past 2 months BP has been using Corexit 9500. They say they don’t think it is as hazardous, but who wants to find out the hard way?I was naive about dispersants before my trip. I found out that it works like soap when you do your dishes. It breaks down the oil over time by depleting the oxygen. I have also had people contact me about “natural” options that can be used like the dispersants and the won’t harm animals or people. I have a friend who is doing private testing of the water and dispersants. I hope the results will shed light on how damaging the product really is. I am not sure anyone really knows what is safe, and will work, since nothing like this has ever happened before. Most of the other products I had people tell me about sound good but have never been tested for something as large as this. Using products in the Gulf of Mexico is not the same as testing them in a swimming pool.

Today I was informed that there are still 100 birds A DAY being treated for oil exposure. The media has us thinking that the worst is over. From what I have seen, and heard, I think we have a long way to go. PJ told me that he has seen a number of oiled birds that needed help ASAP! PJ calls the 800 number that NOAA and Wildlife and Fisheries tell you to call. He said they ask you questions like:

1. What restaurant are you close to?

2. What are the cross streets?

He tells them he is in the middle of a marsh with an oiled bird and then he gets no response. If he can’t get an oiled bird helped, with all of his connections, how can we trust that this oil situation is being taken care of properly?

Pelicans

Pelicans on Cat Island, A National Wildlife Refuge

Pelicans on Cat Island

More Birds on Cat Island

There are reports that the oil has gone as far as 5,000 Ft. under the water. The concern, how this oil will impact the whole food chain.The seafood, (Ex: shrimp, crawfish, crabs) live on the floor of the sea and eat plants/ dead creatures. This seafood is the perfect meal for small fish. The small fish are eaten by larger fish which can be eaten by whales, sharks, seals, etc. Humans eat most of these creatures. If the creatures at the bottom of the chain are impacted, everything and everyone can also be impacted. The water all over the world is connected. It’s the land that is not connected. Once the water in Gulf begins to move, so will the oil that is still there.

If all of this alone were not bad enough……When I was out on the water I saw a number of flat boats and air boats deep in the marshes. There is NO REASON for those boats to be there.When people do things like that they are destroying nests, babies, the marsh land itself not to mention spreading the oil around to other areas. The boats should stay on the outside of the booms. I saw one area where these boats had been driving around. The marsh area was completely flat and dead. Because of this, the marsh land is being lost.

Marsh Land affected by the Boats

One of Several Boats in the Marsh

When I was growing up in New Orleans it really bothered me when I was told, “the coast is eroding away and the area I was fishing in would eventually be gone”. Right now Louisiana is loosing 1 Football Field of land every 45 minutes. There are ways to restore the land AND protect the area from storms. The challenge is that it takes about 6-8 years to get the approval from all of the authorities: EPA, Wildlife and Fisheries and NOAA.

I addition to these challenges, the families in the area are having a hard time making a living. One night I went to to have dinner at a favorite seafood restaurant in the area. I was surprised to see the place was nearly empty. The owner told me that before the oil disaster you had to wait to get a table. Now, they are not sure how they will stay open. They had to let a lot of their staff go. Now the owners are the waiters, bus boys and run the business. Katrina destroyed their restaurant, they rebuilt and opened 6 months ago. People in the community were so happy to have the restaurant back in business. Now they are not sure they will be able to stay open because people are afraid to eat the seafood. I had shrimp, oysters and soft shell crabs. It was wonderful!

I saw firsthand how this crisis is affecting the people who live off the land (fishermen), the retailers (restaurants, markets), commercial real estate owners and attorney’s, etc. I also heard a number of stories from people who can hardly feed themselves, much less their pets. They had to take their loving animals to the pound.The shelters are so full that they can’t keep up with the demand. Many of these animals are losing their lives because they don’t have a place to live. The Humane Society of Louisiana had to move their rescue from Louisiana to Mississippi after Katrina. The shelter was destroyed. They have over 200 animals and only 6 workers. It is a no kill shelter and they have so many people wanting to place animals with them. Mississippi was suppose to be a temporary location, until they could find new land and rebuild in Louisiana. They still don’t have the funds to buy the land and build the shelter.

Two weeks ago I was going to have a fundraiser in Sarasota Florida. I wanted to raise money to help the wildlife and other animals affected by the oil disaster and bring more awareness worldwide. I had to postpone it. Now that I have been home, in New Orleans, I think I might do the fundraiser there.

This situation has a far reaching affect on everyone, everywhere. The first step is to find alternatives to oil. The US consumes so much more than any other country in the world. In addition, we import most of it from other countries, like Canada. It’s not like we are buying our own oil. The world we live in is amazing! This planet has been through so much and keeps on going. It has the ability to regenerate itself, no matter what the human population does to it. Unfortunately, regeneration takes a lot of time and it is being destroyed much faster than it can be repaired. I hope this is a wake-up call and the world can learn from this situation. Let’s take steps to improve the way we live. Humans are so intelligent. We are so advanced in medicine, technology, etc. At the same time we seem to destroy things faster than we are advancing.

I was really glad I got to go to New Orleans. I realize how much that place means to me. It is one of the most unique, interesting, culture rich places you will ever visit.

Gini Hyman donated to our wildlife fund and won a weekend at Clear Creek Ranch in the beautiful North Carolina Mountains. Thank you so much Gini!

I also want to thank all of the other wonderful people who donated to this cause. Even though the oil may have stopped spilling in the Gulf, the problem is far from over. The chemicals used to get rid of the oil is having an impact on the wildlife, seafood, etc. There is still a lot of oil in the swamps where these creatures live. I am headed to New Orleans to see for myself. I will do a special report when I return. I will also post the pictures.

You could WIN 1 WEEKEND at Clear Creek Ranch in the North Carolina Mountains & HELP WILDLIFE. There are so many creatures that are still dying from the oil that has been dispersed into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There are so many political issues involved and it is impacting the lives of so much wildlife.

I am raising money for the wildlife. Go to my HOMEPAGE and you will see the link “Wildlife Donations”. If you donate,you have the potential to win a weekend at Clear Creek Ranch in the beautiful North Carolina Mountains. Please pass this on to the people in your database and social sites.

There will also be a conference in New Orleans Aug. 7th & 8th. Details can be found on their website at www.humanela.org under their BP oil spill link.

The following agencies and departments will be providing speakers:

The US Coast Guard (will talk on their role as incident commander for this oil spill)

The Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (will talk on their role in helping marine mammals and sea turtles)

The Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries (will talk on their role in capturing oiled birds)

local wildlife experts

British Petroleum (will talk on whatever they choose to share – they have been rather uncooperative (go figure!)

The first day of the conference will be divided into three sessions:

brief presentation by each speaker

panel discussion with answers taken from audience

strategy-building session facilitated by Paul Berry, former CEO of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (audience will explore new ideas and more effective means of helping affective wildlife)

Animal Connection will be hosting an event on August 1, 2010 to help the wildlife affected by the oil disaster. It will be at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota Florida from 5-9pm. The fee to get in will be $20 donation. Kristy and Lindsey Landers will provide their band for entertainment. They play at all of the big parties for Hugh Hefner, PETA and other well know venues. People who attend the event will have their name placed on the “wildlife” page of my website specifically for this event. Even if you send in your donation, your name will be placed on the site.

Yesterday someone said my event is not only for the wildlife but everything and everyone. They told me that the oil disaster affects the wildlife, impacts the seafood, the life of the fishermen and our economy as a whole. I NEVER thought of it that way. It is so true. That is the exact reason for my show, Animal Connection…we are all connected in many ways.

We have had a number of celebrities and professional athletes express interest in attending the event or helping to promote the event. I will have the names of the attendees in the next week.

This will be a wonderful event. Please check back next week for more specific information. We will also have a Paypal account set up so you can contribute if you would like.

I want to thank you again for your continued support of Animal Connection and the animals that don’t have a voice in this world.

I want Friday’s to bring awareness to other organizations that are doing wonderful things for animals. I also want to empower people. The best way to do that, give people options so they can make a difference. All of my posts give you options to help. If you have information you want to share, send me a paragraph on the topic with a link to the website, by 11am on Thursday. I will do this each Friday. Please pass this link on to bring awareness to these wonderful organizations, thanks!

At the end of this post is a wonderful, entertaining, loving, inspiring video from National Geographic.

My Adopter

1. You’ve adopted animals but have you ever been adopted by an animal? Here is a website where you can read stories about animals that have a happy ending. Join the Story Club. It is totally free and safe. Just by joining you will be helping to save lives and ease the suffering of unfortunate animals.

Floyd the Dog writes, and encourages others to write, stories about animals and their interaction with each other and with humans. His concern and compassion for animals is the basis for the free website publication of these stories both here and on hisStory Club.

Daphne adopted me. She hates the cold and was flying from the north of England, where she says she was born, to her winter home in the much kinder climate of southern Spain. Click here read more about my adopter.

Greyhound Needing A Home

2. With the seasonal closing of the Melbourne track in Florida, it is wonderful how various Greyhound organizations have supported one another to ensure good homes for the Greyhounds. While Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions has already fostered a handful from Melbourne already, they need additional foster homes.

Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions is greyt to work with, as they pay for all expenses related to the care of the fostered Greyhound. It includes food, medical, crate, etc. All you do is supply the love. It takes anywhere from 2 days to several weeks to find a home for a Greyhound. You are not expected to adopt the fostered Greyhound, either.

Mombo Needs A Home

If you are able to foster, or know of someone interested in fostering a Greyhound, contact Joanne at: joanne.wuelfing@gmail.com

3. This was sent to me by, Jacob Versnel, one of my contacts in the Netherlands. It’s a hard story to read but they are working towards a happy ending. You can help.

No rest. No water. No care… He traveled more than 1,000 miles to his death.

Bred only for food, he spent his life unloved and unnamed. His final indignity was the tortuous journey from Romania to Italy to his slaughter.

Every year over 50,000 horses are transported from Eastern Europe to Italy for slaughter. Compassion has investigated the long distance transport of horses across Europe – we were shocked by what we found.

Just imagine being pushed and pulled into a truck, standing for hours on end, without water or a chance to rest. It is proven that horse welfare deteriorated after 8-12 hours of transport. Yet our investigators found that the truck filled with horses that they followed, traveled for over 24 hours.

What a sad reflection on modern Europe that this cruel practice is still allowed to continue. But you can help.

The final journey – When our investigators followed a truck transporting horses from Romania to Italy, they found the drivers broke an important EU regulation by not providing these animals with water. They also broke with basic human decency, in their cruel disregard for animal welfare.

If, like us, you believe that no farm animal should be transported for more than 8 hours, please support our work to end live transport and factory farming.

We want to stop to this heart-breaking disregard for animal welfare. Through investigations, lobbying and vigorous campaigning, we’re working to limit transports of farmed animals to 8 hours and ultimately to stop the long distance trade in live animals. At the very least, we want to see the existing welfare laws properly enforced. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY CLICKING HERE.

Tony the Tiger

4. The eye of the Tiger. Have you ever heard of Tony The Tiger? He does exist.

Tony the Truck Stop Tiger is a 9 y/o Siberian/Bengal tiger who has lived his whole life at a truck stop in Grosse Tete Louisiana. His home is one of concrete and steel. In Dec 2009 the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries granted a permit to Tony’s owner to keep him at the Truck Stop. This permit is valid for 1 year.

Tony’s living conditions are abhorrent. He is not living the life of a Tiger. He urgently needs to be rescued and allowed to live out his life in a sanctuary.Big Cat Rescuewill take him in. Tony needs heros, click here to help.

The people who have Tony say that they have had him since he was a baby and he’d be traumatized if he were sent to live someplace else. They also say the Big Cat Rescue would not love, and care for him, the way they do. They say they are providing him a good home. The owner, Michael Sandlin, says: “People from out of state are telling the most outrageous lies and half truths about Louisiana’s Tiger Truck Stop. When they came to the Parish Council Meeting to argue against my rights, they resorted to yelling and name calling, finally stooping so low as to demean me and my family by labeling us as “inbreds”. Classy talk from supposedly sophisticated activists.” Michael’s family and friends extended every courtesy to those people and were repaid with ugly slurs and hate speech.

Please let us know your thoughts and ideas to resolve a situation like this. There are a lot of issues like this in the US and around the world.

5. They lay on an ice pan, just a few feet apart — two seal pups sleeping quietly, blissfully unaware that a sealing vessel was bearing down on them, just 100 meters away.

As painful as it is to bear witness to this horror, the people with HSUS know they have to keep going there — because every picture, video, and word that they send out to the world touches the hearts and minds of people and governments. That’s why the sealing industry doesn’t want them there. And that’s why they need your help.

6. “The Cove”, a documentary and winner of audience awards across the world, including Sundance, SilverDocs and Hot Docs. The Cove follows a team of activists and filmmakers as they infiltrate a heavily-guarded cove in Taiji, Japan. In this remote village they witness and document activities deliberately being hidden from the public: More than 20,000 dolphins and porpoises are being slaughtered each year and their meat, containing toxic levels of mercury, is being sold as food in Japan, often times labeled as whale meat.

7. What will happen to the rescued animals that Martina Navratilova has at the sanctuary she owns, but is selling?

Martina and her partner were very much in love when they paid more than $1 million for land where they could rescue 26 malnourished cows likely to be made into dog food.

They bought the land through their new company, MT Nest. M stood for tennis legend Martina Navratilova; T was her partner, Toni Layton.

The couple turned the 20-acre site in East Sarasota County into a sanctuary where about 100 cows, horses, pigs and other animals, many saved from slaughter, could live in peace.

But in 2008, the couple split and Navratilova threw Layton out of her luxury home on Casey Key, a claim by Layton based on lawsuit records.

Now Layton and other local animal lovers say Navratilova plans to sell the sanctuary and the animals with it. Animal activists who placed animals there are worried they will now be sold to farmers and slaughtered for meat. Read the whole story here.

8. Watch this video that was on National Geographic. It is funny, heartwarming, educational and something that will make you feel good all over.

Have you ever thought about going on vacation but you’re concerned about what to do with your pet? How about taking your pet with you?

It is estimated around 85% of pet owners travel with their pets by car. If you’re planning to take your pet with you on trips in the car, start early when the pet is young so they get used to the routine. Short jaunts across town and back, or easy day trips, will get your pet used to the ride. A carsick pet can make the trip miserable for everyone.

Be sure to bring along cleaning supplies to avoid having to search out a place to purchase them at the last minute.

If you are going to be riding on buses or trains you need to check the state and local restrictions. Some prohibit pets from riding on buses or trains unless they are assisting visually impaired or physically challenged persons. Always check in advance with these transportation providers to find out what regulations they may impose.

Before you travel with your pet, check with your veterinarian to make sure your pet is physically able to make the trip. Some senior or physically impaired dogs and cats do not travel well. You may want to consider a local, reputable kennel for your pet, or if your pet is would be more comfortable at home, you may want to contact a pet sitting organization to locate a pet sitter in your area who can take care of your pet in its own, familiar surroundings.

If you decide that your pet is able to take the trip there are still a number of things to consider.

Traveling with pets internationally can be much more challenging than domestic travel with pets because of long waiting periods, quarantine requirements and other importation regulations. If you are considering traveling internationally with your pet, it’s important to begin planning way ahead of your intended time of travel. Proper planning will help better prepare you and your pet for the trip, lessen the stress on both of you and provide realistic expectations of international pet travel.

Here are a few things you should think about:

What types of airline restrictions do you have for international pet travel?

Do you limit the number of pets allowed in cargo and in the cabin?

Are certain breeds of pets not permitted or not advised to travel internationally?

What are the container requirements?

Will my pet have to change planes?

Will my pet be able to relieve himself somewhere if it is a long flight?

When and where should I drop off my pet?

What documents will I need to transport my pet?

Where will my pet clear customs?

What do you do if your pet needs emergency care, at home or while you are away? What if your pet gets lost or even worst, what if there is a disaster in your area? You will need to find resources for all of these issues.

We can help you find answers to these and other issues. If you have suggestions you have used for your animals, please post them so that other pet owners can learn from your experience.

I want Friday’s to bring awareness to other organizations that are doing wonderful things for animals. If you have information you want to share, send me a paragraph on the topic with a link to the website, by 11am on Thursday. I will do this each Friday. Please pass this link on to bring awareness to these wonderful organizations, thanks!

Enjoy the 6 posts below:

1. A Love Story: A) Here, his wife is injured and the condition is fatal. She was hit by a car as she swooped low across the road.

B) Here he brought her food and attended to her with love and compassion.

C) He brought her food again but was shocked to find her dead. He tried to move her….a rarely-seen effort for swallows!

D) Aware that his sweetheart is dead and will never come back to him again,he cries with adoring love.

E) He stands beside her, saddened by her death.

F) Finally aware that she would never return to him, he stays beside her body with sadness and sorrow.

Millions of people cried after seeing this picture story inAmerica and Europe and even in India . It is said that thephotographer sold these pictures for a nominal fee to themost famous newspaper in France . All copies of that newspaper were sold out on the day these pictures were published.And many people think birds and animals don’t have a brain or feelings!!

2. On December 15th, 2009 the SPCA of Texas took custody of 26,000 exotic animals from US Global Exotics in the largest animal seizure in US history. USGE was a major distributor of exotic animals from wallabies to hamsters; warehousing them in horrific conditions until they could be brokered to stores, breeders and retailers. Thousands of reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, arachnids, and many other animals were cruelly confined in filthy conditions, literally crammed into cattle-feeding troughs, boxes, bags, and even pop bottles. They did not have food, water, or veterinary care. According to reports 500 animals a day were dying at USGE, ending up tossed in their dumpster.

Thanks to an undercover PETA investigation the animals were permanently awarded to the SPCA of Texas on Feb 1, 2010. Love or hate PETA you have to give them credit for this one. Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary was proud and honored to be selected as one of 30 rescues in the nation to receive some of the rescued animals from the US Global Exotics animal cruelty and neglect
case. Located in Northern Illinois Critter Camp board member Shary Stelter made the trip to Nashville, TN to meet up with the SPCA of TX transport on Superbowl Sunday where she was interviewed by Nashville Television station WSMV. See the 75 critters from USGE now calling Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary their home, including adorable Texas Spotted Ground Squirrels, short-tailed opossum , Roborovski hamsters and little white mice; and find links to more information on our Global Exotics Rescue Page:Click Here For More Information.

Critter Camp is the only exotic pet sanctuary of its kind in the U.S. giving a safe, healthy happy home to the elderly, sick, disabled and aggressive un-adoptable exotic pets that have nowhere else to go, currently caring for over 300 animals of 36 different species! Click Here to go to Their Website

3. Pepsi is funding grants in various categories until 2/28. Many Houston dogs are euthanized due to heartworms in a good economy, it is at a horrendous pace currently.

The drug to treat this is very expensive and each bottle only treats 22 lbs. This group is desperate to move up into the funded top ten. More information and pictures of saved dogs are on the site. This could help dogs at many rescue groups and shelter. People can vote every day, until the 28th. PLEASE, CLICK HERE to go to this site to vote today, and everyday until the 28th.

4. TAKE ACTION TODAY!!! 36,000 elephants were killed last year for their ivory. In 16 DAYS 111 tonnes of ivory will be traded at the CITIES* conference if certain countries have their way.

This will pretty much kick-start the ivory trade in a massive way meaning the end for tens or even hundreds of thousands of elephants.

5. A documentary was just completed. It’s about No Kill Pet Rescues and Shelters as well as the challenges they face. In November of 2008 a family adopted a new family member from the Animal Welfare Society and learned about the lack of awareness of the No Kill shelters. They took it upon themselves to finance and create a program about these shelters. They have pledged 60% of all profits to go to the AWS and if they can get great distribution, will split some for other local shelters in the Detroit area.

6. Dachshund Rescue of BucksCounty & NJ have on-line workshops. They are hosted by dachshund experts and are designed to help you have a long and happy relationship with your doxie of any size. There is a small donation fee charged for attendance with all proceeds donated to DRBC for the high medical fees incurred in the rescue and rehabilitation of our beloved breed.

This Month’s First Topic: Dental Disease and Your Dog
Those amazing toofers. How to keep them clean, bright and where they belong. Are doxies more prone to dental disease? How often should I clean my dogs teeth. How often should my vet clean my dogs teeth? Dental and cardiac disease,yes, they are related. Did you know there is anew vaccine to eliminate 4 out of 5 of the causes of tartar? You can find out all about it at this session.